Louth school awarded national LGBTQ+ Quality Mark

On Thursday 26 March 2026, Scoil Ui Mhuiri, Dunleer in mid-Louth, received the Belong To LGBTQ+ Quality Mark, recognising it’s work over an 18-month period to create safe, welcoming and inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ young people, at a ceremony in The Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

Scoil Ui Mhuiri was among 39 post‑primary schools and Youthreach centres from across Ireland recognised at the event, in total representing over 2,300 staff and 22,000 students from across the country.  

Key achievements of the accredited schools are, Policy Reform, which includes implementation of robust, LGBTQ+-inclusive anti-bullying policies; a Student Voice, the establishment of ‘LGBTQ+ and Allies’ clubs to foster peer support; and Community Engagement, the direct outreach to parents and the wider school community to build a culture of belonging.

The LGBTQ+ Quality Mark is the first national accreditation of its kind, supporting schools and centres in Louth and across Ireland to embed sustainable, long‑term practices that protect LGBTQ+ students’ wellbeing and foster a culture of belonging.

Commenting at the event, Katie Jane Anderson, teacher at Scoil Ui Mhuiri said: “Receiving the Belong To LGBTQ+ Quality Mark means a great deal to us. It reflects our care, commitment, and belief in inclusion - that every young person deserves to feel safe, respected, and able to be themselves.

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"This recognition is not just about what we have achieved so far, but about the journey we are on together — listening, learning, and continuing to grow as an inclusive community. We are incredibly proud of this and remain deeply committed to making our school community a place where everyone feels that they belong.”

16 schools and centres across the country were formally awarded the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark for the first time following an 18‑month programme of evidence‑based interventions designed to strengthen LGBTQ+ inclusion and student wellbeing. A further 23 schools and centres were reaccredited, having first achieved the Quality Mark in 2023.

The ceremony marked one of the first major engagements for Belong To’s new CEO, Kieran O’Donovan. Speaking at the event, Mr O’Donovan (he/him) commented: “This year’s LGBTQ+ Quality Mark accreditation ceremony highlighted the extraordinary work happening in schools and youth centres in Louth and across the country to support LGBTQ+ young people.

"Staff and students have shown real dedication to building environments where every young person feels safe, valued, and able to be themselves. While we know from our 2022 School Climate Survey that 76% of LGBTQ+ youth still do not feel safe at school, the schools recognised today are taking meaningful action to change that.

“These schools and centres are leading the way. Their work shows what is possible when inclusion is prioritised, resourced, and embedded across school culture. We are proud to recognise their achievements and look forward to supporting many more schools on this journey.”